Noto Peninsula Before the Earthquake

A photographic record of the Noto Peninsula before the 2024 earthquake changed the landscape forever.

Introduction

This journey took place in 2012, twelve years before much of the Noto Peninsula would be changed forever.

From early morning, Wajima Morning Market was already filled with life. Local vendors greeted visitors with warm smiles, colorful stalls lined the historic streets, and travelers came from across Japan to experience one of the country's most famous morning markets.

Dried seafood, seasonal vegetables, lacquerware, and handmade goods reflected generations of local tradition.

At the time, these photographs were simply snapshots of an ordinary day.
I never imagined they would one day become a record of a landscape that could never be seen in quite the same way again.

Why I Visited Noto

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons to travel through the Noto Peninsula.
The sea is calm, the weather is stable, and on clear days the snow-covered Tateyama Mountain Range rises beyond Toyama Bay, creating one of Japan's most remarkable coastal landscapes.

For years, Noto had been one of the places I hoped to visit.
Unlike many famous destinations, it attracted relatively few tourists at the time, and international visitors were still rare.

I came looking for a quieter Japan—one where traditional fishing towns, historic streets, and everyday life still remained.

Morning at Wajima

Clouds covered the sky that morning, and rain seemed likely at any moment.
Even so, the colorful market stalls quickly filled the streets.

Every stand offered something unexpected.
Fresh vegetables.
Homemade pickles.
Traditional lacquerware.
Dried seafood I had never seen before.

Walking slowly through the market was like discovering small surprises one after another.
As I searched for something to enjoy with dinner that evening, I realized that the market itself was the true destination.

Along the Coast

Leaving Wajima behind, I continued north along the coastline.
Soon the landscape opened into one of Noto's most distinctive views—terraced rice fields cascading toward the sea.

It was a scene unlike anywhere else in Japan.
Further north, another traditional industry appeared along the shore: the historic salt fields.

Everywhere I traveled, the peninsula revealed another reminder that old Japan was still quietly alive.

Towns of Noto

Small villages are scattered throughout the peninsula.
On this journey, I happened to arrive during a local Children's Day celebration.

Elementary school students marched through the streets with a brass band while families and neighbors gathered to cheer them on.

Warm applause echoed through the village.

It was a simple community event that would never appear in a travel guide, yet moments like these became some of the most memorable parts of the journey.
Sometimes the greatest discoveries are found only by being there.

Roads Through the Peninsula

After reaching Cape Suzu at the northern tip of the peninsula, I began the journey south along the opposite coast.

The scenery changed constantly.

The highlight came as the afternoon light softened over Toyama Bay.
Across the water, the snow-covered Tateyama Mountain Range slowly turned shades of gold and pink beneath the evening sky.

It was one of those rare landscapes that exists only for a few quiet moments before disappearing with the setting sun.
The day ended as gently as it had begun.

What Remains

When these photographs were taken, they simply documented ordinary moments.

After the earthquake, their meaning quietly changed.
They became a record of a landscape, a community, and a way of life that can no longer be seen in quite the same way.

The people in these photographs did not know what the future would bring.
They were simply living another ordinary day.
That is why these images are not about loss.
They are about life.
And through these photographs, that life continues to be remembered.

Archive Information

Location	Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Photographed	2012
Collection	90 photographs
Published	2026
Series	PATHS OF JAPAN Vol.3

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